The Autoresponder: Why You Need a Paid Service
There are a number of advantages to using an autoresponder when building and managing an email list and several important reasons why you will need a paid one that I will cover here.
I will also cover the pros and cons of using an autoresponder from some of the major providers.
Maintaining an active list is essential for those engaged in selling third party products for commission, most especially via affiliate marketing, for which there are many excellent affiliate marketing course options available if you need to get started, grow and succeed in this area.
First of all, let's look at why you should even consider signing up for one that you'll have to pay for.
A Paid Email Distribution Service
While there are a number of free options available to beginner list builders, I want to make it clear that what you are getting into is the start of a real business that should be taken seriously.
By that, I mean you should not cut corners if you intend to make a success of your business and make a good deal of money in the process.
Trying to do as much as possible for free is a common starting tactic of many newcomers to the world of email lists. However, being free doesn't necessarily mean it will do all that you need it
do do.
A paid service is preferable for a number of good reasons, not least of all being that you are investing in your business in order for it to grow and flourish. The last thing you need is to discover restrictions on your growth that weren't apparent when you opted for a free service.
Pros and Cons of Paid Autoresponders
Let's look at the pros and cons of using a paid service to store, manage and distribute emails to your list.
Pros:
Advanced Features
Paid email autoresponders provide advanced features like segmentation, automation and analytics. This allows you to create targeted and personalized campaigns while tracking your email performance. You can also automate many repetitive tasks to save time and effort.
Ability to Scale
Scalability means growing your money-making email list easily while being able to send more emails as your business grows. Tiered pricing plans allow you to choose the level that is the best fit for your business needs and budget.
Deliverability
There is considerable evidence that delivery rates are higher when compared to many free email services. Paid services run on dedicated IP addresses while following strict anti-spam regulations. This ensure your emails have a much higher probability of reaching the inboxes they're sent to.
Security and Peace of Mind
Knowing that your business is being taken care of by a professional service that you are a paying customer of can give you peace of mind that you are in good hands. The top paid services offer better security for your list and campaigns than free alternatives. Also, the ease of use of paid services can be a time, stress and headache saver when you aren't faced with complications that some free services tend to put in your way.
Professionalism
A popular branded autoresponder displays a professional image for your business. Emails will appear more professional when you use quality templates and design tools provided by the big branded services to create visually appealing emails that come from a more trusted provider.
Support
Dedicated customer support is available to help you with any issues or queries. This can represent a major advantage over free services especially if you're an email marketing newcomer or you just need assistance to overcome a stumbling block in your process.
Cons
Monthly Subscription
Having to commit to paying a monthly subscription can be a barrier especially for newcomers to list building, especially when there your new business project is not generating any income to begin with. While the main paid services provide low-cost entry subscriptions, it can still be off-putting when your budget is zero.
Subscriber Tiers
Tiered costs that are dependent on the size of your list can appear restrictive at first. The more emails you collect, the more it can cost to store them on your paid autoresponder service.
Which Autoresponder?
Of the main services that are available, I would recommend first considering one of the big, well known and established brands at the outset.
The main choice I considered for my own business was between Aweber and GetResponse, so I tried them both to see which I preferred. While GetResponse worked perfectly well for me, I eventually settled with Aweber as I believe it best suited my way of working.
To widen the net and have other options ot look at, Constant Contact, ConvertKit, Hubspot and Mailchimp can also be serious contenders for your custom. I don't have any first hand experience with these services, so I will stick with what I know and have used.
Your final choice should be the one that best fits with your own style and needs.
Summary
There are several very good paid autoresponders on the market as well as free alternatives if your budget is severely limited, especially at the beginning of your journey.
If you choose to use a free service, make sure that it provides the ability to export your list and campaigns to another provider for when the time comes to expand to a paid service. Failure to provide this option is a major disadvantage of choosing a free service to begin with that restricts you in this way.
My recommendation is to start as you mean to go on and opt for a paid service that provides all the benefits that you will need to grow your business over time in a professional and successful manner.
[BACK TO TOP]
Posted on Friday September 21, 2024 in the-list
